I’d like to introduce you to Andy Scotsman Moore. Andy and his wife, Debbie are waiting to be assigned as pastors and missionaries to a church through www.villagemissions.org. Village Missions place spiritually qualified missionary-pastors to churches in rural communities where they serve in a full-time capacity to provide a Christ-centered church program to the community. Andy was the unofficial resident pastor for the Exwitch and Ancient Crossroads ministry. Our own Mark Bishop (whose testimony is in my latest book “From The Craft To Christ”) also one of the Exwitch administrators provided this statement, “Andy helped in many ways with the exwitch forums as well as the Ancientcrossroads forum. He did everything from apologetics to prayer, with plenty of room in-between for keeping the board running smoothly.”

Andy’s call to ministry began in the 80’s as a pastor and teacher with a focus on discipleship leading him to serve in Japan and the U.S. Both he and his wife share a love for motorcycles and incorporate their passion into sharing and showing the love of Jesus Christ to motorcyclists through the Cheyenne Christian Riders (CMA), in which Andy was the former Vice President and current State Prayer Coordinator for Wyoming.

This next season of ministry is a huge step of faith for Andy and Debbie who will need to raise a minimum support base ($600 a month) before they can be placed in their new church home. Please prayerfully consider partnering with them on a monthly basis or make a donation on their behalf. Go to www.villagemissions.org at the top, you will see see a heading which says “Partner with Us.” Scroll over that and it will bring up a window. Click on Donate Online. Find the “Donate to a Missionary” section and click on the “U.S. Donations” button. This will take you to the support page. Find the drop down box under Support a Missionary. Find their names listed alphabetically and click on Andy & Debra Moore. Fill out the rest of the form and submit.Thank you for your prayerful consideration in sowing into this ministry.

Coming soon in 2014 – From The Craft To Christ – The Allure of Witchcraft and the Church’s Response.I’ve been busy working with the editor on my upcoming book release, From “The Craft To Christ” leaving me little time to blog but… I will re-emerge from my isolation soon. For now, let me tell share what the new book is about. “From The Craft To Christ” is a refreshingly-honest book and a valuable ministry tool, exposing insightful information I have gained from my years in the Craft. But it doesn't stop there, as it also shares the true stories of nine former witches who experienced a life-changing encounter with God. I believe that we as Christians, must extend our lives beyond the walls of the building and become a living church revealing Christ Jesus to a deceived generation.

A few days ago I was informed of an article in The Christian News regarding a small Wiccan academy in Manhattan that is apparently offering courses in witchcraft. While this may be the first of its kind in the Big Apple, it’s certainly not the first school of witchcraft and likely will not be the last. Having an academy of pagan studies in public view may seem alarming, however it really only brings to the forefront something that has been going on for centuries. Rest assured curious enrollees and those taking courses for shock value will be dropouts in no time, leaving only the serious-minded who would have sought it out regardless of public availability. In a perfect world, from a Christian point of view of course we’d like to see our country one nation under Jehovah God. Yet scripture tells us we live in a fallen world that lies in sin and wickedness. It should come as no surprise that there are pagans (or non-believers) among us. Matthew 5:13 tells us we are the salt of the earth, meaning we are the preservatives in our infected world. In other words, our lives should cause a thirst for the righteousness of God in the ungodly world in which we live. What I do find disturbing is the school’s “Dragon Academy”, in which elementary and middle school-aged students are taught pagan practices and spellwork. Since the old-school craft that I knew had ethics whereby children were not taught the ways of the craft unless they had a parent involved that granted permission, I checked out their website to see what they had to say. While they seem to be adhering to having parental involvement, I found nothing that said the parent had to be Wiccan. This concerns me. An unknowing parent could easily sign up little “Tommy” thinking witchcraft just a fantasy when the wand in their little darling’s hand is actually real. In the Times article, Starr RavenHawk, founder and Wiccan priestess is quoted “But if people really knew what we are about, they would know that studying to become a good witch is no different than studying to become a good Catholic.” I’d respectfully disagree, in fact there is a big difference when it comes to teaching a 5 year old magick compared to the rosary. Any good witch knows that magick is not something to be taken lightly. So then… how shall we respond to a pagan academy among us? We are to let our light shine before men, that they may see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven. If we our allowing His light to shine through our lives, our actions will reflect the very nature of Christ… love, compassion and forgiveness. This would be one lesson they would never have expected.

I recently read an article by Alex Murashko from The Christian Post concerning The University of Missouri adding Wiccan and Pagan holidays to their “Guide to Religious Major Holidays”. In short, this would add an additional 8 days to the already 40 listed holidays with recommendations for instructors to avoid when scheduling major academic deadlines such as exams, all the way to dietary accommodations. Media personalities that rebuked the college for adding Wiccan holidays in with Christmas and Hanukkah are now being criticized themselves by a group of Salem witches. According to the article, Tucker Carlson of Fox News said that “Wiccans are a very small minority and shouldn't be included in the University of Missouri's policy”. Mr. Carlson is also quoted as saying “Every Wiccan [he's] ever known is either a compulsive Dungeons and Dragons player or is a middle-aged, twice divorced older woman living in a rural area who works as a midwife." I’d have to strongly disagree with his generalizations. Wicca is not the small minority Mr. Carlson believes it to be and is comprised of people from all walks of life. In fact, Wicca would most likely exceed other lesser known religions on the list such as Shinto and Baha’i. Don’t get me wrong, as a Christian I am strongly in favor of having off on Christmas and Good Friday to celebrate Jesus' birth, death and resurrection. In that sense, Jewish, Christian, Wiccan and other faiths share a common objective of having their holidays observed. However, do we really want to sacrifice education for diversity?

It would seem challenging for a teacher to coordinate an opportune time for exams between the seemingly endless list of religious observances, only to find they’ve scheduled the exam the day after The Super Bowl, leaving students operating on little sleep and potential hangovers from parties despite the Religious Guide. You have to wonder when non-religious days will soon be added compromising their education. The real test for these students is their ability to persevere and plan for their religious holiday to make the grade that will ultimately benefit their future career. It’s a tough choice, but that responsibility lies within the student, not with the institution.

A friend of mine recently witnessed the grand opening in the hospital where he worked. The hospital lobby itself looked more like a major city airport lobby minus the moving walkway. The press and paparazzi were everywhere and the newest addition to our family was actually photographed on this grand opening for the front page news. The first sign of trouble was when my friend walked into the Cathedral of Light. This integrated belief chapel hosted a smorgasbord of Gods to meet the patient’s palette. The chapel is void of any spiritual symbolism except for the aura of blue light circling the perimeter of the ceiling and bouncing off the array of glass beads that cascade down to the sterile white pews. On the hospital staff was a closet Christian who was the Director of Religious Ministries, bound to the diversity creed. The new age of medical arts was running amuck throughout offering such practices as Reiki, Acupuncture and Tibetan Singing Bowls but down the hall where my friend worked, scripture engraved jewelry and decorative crosses lined the shelves. It was not uncommon to hear Christian music fill my friend’s workplace and God dwelt there in the praises of His people. Until that tragic day when someone took offense to the cross and the word was given to either offer a representation of all beliefs or none at all. Not wanting to display and encourage the worship of other Gods, he choose none at all and was forced to pull all Christian items off the shelves despite his spiritual conviction. Christmas arrived at this brand new high-tech hospital with a gleam of hope by the Menorah displayed at the front desk but when it came to hanging garland and displaying Santa’s in my friends attempt to meet this diversified creed he found that garland and ornaments were considered “Christian”. But what truly amazed me was that I never knew Santa had converted to Christianity. Tell me… since when did he give his life to Christ? Checking Bible Gateway revealed no reference to Santa Claus or for that matter garland. In fact… if I think back I find garland in my pagan past. My friend actually had a conference call about his alleged pro-Christmas stand where even the pagan acknowledged that my friend was right and Christmas trees and garland are from pagan traditions. However the HR committee decided that Santa and his reindeer, snowmen, Christmas trees, garland and ornaments along with the colors of gold red and white were guilty by association with the word “Christmas”. And so down came the garland, the snowmen melted and Santa flew out with his reindeer. Yet this leader of diversity defended the Reiki, Acupuncture and Singing Bowls… after all they had no association with “Christ” only the new age arts which fit the multi-faith label. Now the symbols of Christ and the Christians are gone leaving a spiritual void for the diversified world and the ultimate healer and giver of eternal life has left the building. "911… what’s your emergency?” “Hospital is in Code Red”!

What is Insights From Hindsight? Insights From Hindsight is a 30-day biblical study guide that corresponds with the book and offers spiritual insight into the events that transpired. It can be used as a personal study guide or for use with small groups. Included are sections on how to minister to those spiritually lost and spiritual warfare. These “insights” expand beyond the book and offer useful tips to engage in intercession.

Get this… you walk into Barnes & Noble only to find the store is half the size as it used to be. A quick glance and you notice the various Nook devices and loads of accessories. The barista counter is over in the far corner with tables for coffee talk discussion. Yet, something is missing… books! Where are all the paperback books? You look around and find several large flat screens playing a barrage of non-stop book trailers advertising the latest novels. Then you see it… The Espresso Book Machine (EBM). It has the same concept as the Red Box that you rent movies from. Only these aren’t videos, but a catalogue of books! You skim through the different categories until you find it, that’s right... Taken From The Night. The description tells you it’s a true supernatural story of an ex-witch saved by grace. You slide your credit card and with the push of a button, you experience print on demand taken to a whole new level. Within the time it takes to grab a cup of espresso, the machine releases your book in the basket below, complete with cover, binding and contents. At last… you grab your mocha and find a nice comfy chair to engage in the encounter with God.

With the rewrite finished, the manuscript was sent off for a line edit. I’m anxious for its return. It’s amazing to see what actually goes into publishing a book. To think that the first draft was over 400 pages long and has slowly shaped down to half that. In the long run it’s a much tighter story and certainly more enjoyable for the reader. I have to admit it is humbling to bare your soul on the pages of a book. Each page unlocks the secrets of your heart and exposes your vulnerability to the reader. Next chapter… the manuscript undergoes a grammar makeover.